Adopted Children
Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Today, we are continuing our study of the book of Romans.
So, this week, here in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. And while some might not see thanksgiving in Romans chapter 8, I really do.
Chapter 7 closed with a question, and the answer to that question, which is a verse of thanksgiving.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Paul begins with a lament—What a wretched man I am!
Then he asks a question—Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Then he gives us a verse of thanks!—Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
And finally, Paul is thankful for the fact that even though his sinful nature is still a slave to the law of sin—Paul, in his mind, is a slave to God’s Law!
That brings us to our passage today, where Paul continues his thankful ideas.
Great News!
Great News!
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Because of God’s deliverance there is no longer condemnation.
—Condemnation (Gk. penalty, verdict of guilt, judgment, sense of doom)
This lack of “condemnation” comes from the fact that we are in Christ Jesus.
In Christ Jesus we have received the law of the Spirit of God (v. 2a).
This law sets us free from the law of sin and death (v. 2b).
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
The Mosaic law was unable to set us free, because it was weakened by the flesh (v. 3a).
God accomplished what the law could not accomplish by sending His own Son in the flesh (cf. Phil. 2:7; Jn. 1:14) (v. 3b).
His Son, Jesus, became a sin offering for us (cf. Heb. 2:14) (v. 3c).
In this way God condemned sin in the flesh (v. 3d).
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Yet, at the same time God fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, in order that they may be met in us (v. 4a).
But there’s a requirement: we need to stop living according to the desires of the flesh, and instead begin living by the desires of the Spirit (v. 4b).
Paul follows the theme that an encounter with the living Jesus changes everything! This is echoed in Galatians 5:16.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
The Problem with the Flesh
The Problem with the Flesh
Contrast between Living By the Flesh & By the Spirit
First Contrast:
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Those who live by the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires.
Those who live by the Spirit set their minds on set on what the Spirit desires. (v 5).
Second Contrast:
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
The mind governed (controlled) by the flesh is death.
The mind governed (controlled) by the Spirit is life and peace (v. 6).
Conclusion:
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
The mind controlled by the flesh is hostile to God (v. 7a).
The mind controlled by the flesh does not submit to God’s law--and it can’t! (v 7b)
The mind controlled by the flesh cannot please God! (v. 8)
The Spirit of God Changes Everything!
The Spirit of God Changes Everything!
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Paul says we are not living in the realm (Gk. obligated, under obligation to, guilty of, as one who owes) or control of the flesh!
Instead, we are under the control of the Spirit of God (v. 9a).
Because the Spirit of God lives in us! (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Tim. 1:14) (v. 9b).
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
SIDE NOTE: Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ in them, does not belong to Christ (v. 9c).
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
Paul assumes the reader of his letter has Christ living in them! (v. 10a)
We can compare a couple of verses: Gal. 2:20 ; 2 Cor 13:5; Col 1:7
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
So being in Christ, our physical bodies are still subject to physical death (v. 10b).
Still the Spirit of Christ in us gives us life. It is a totally different kind of life than we used to live. It is a life of righteousness (right living before God) (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17) (v. 10c).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Now if (since) the Spirit of God, the Spirit that was able to raise Jesus from the dead lives in you. That is an amazing point the Spirit of almighty God lives in me (v. 11a).
This Spirit (that was able to raise Jesus from the dead) is also able to give life to our mortal bodies (v. 11b).
All because God’s Spirit lives in us! (v. 11 c).
The Believer’s Obligation
The Believer’s Obligation
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
We have an obligation:
We are NOT obligated to the flesh, so we don’t have to live according to all of its desires (v. 12).
If we live according to the flesh we will die (v. 13a).
The Spirit of God put to death the misdeeds of the body (Rom. 6:2) (v. 13b).
So that through the Spirit we can live (Gal. 6:8) (v. 13c).
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
KEY--While Paul states this in the negative, the reality is that the Believer’s response to this should be positive. Every Believer should seek to live their lives under the control and power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, it is the obligation of every believe to refuse to follow their natural inclination of the sin nature. Look at Titus 2:12.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Paul continues to develop this idea in verse 14.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Evidence of the Believer
Evidence of the Believer
Those who are led by (Gk. listen to, guided by, walk by) by the Spirit are children of God! (v. 14)
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
The Spirit of God that we receive is different than being controlled by the flesh (v. 15a).
God’s Spirit does not make us “slaves” (Gk. douleia--slavery; enslaved, subservience) (v. 15b).
God’s Spirit does not make us live in fear (v. 15c).
Instead, God’s Spirit brings about our adoption--makes us children of God (v. 15d).
It allows us to call out Abba (Aramaic for father), Father (Gk. Father)--most likely Paul used both terms together to emphasize the intimate relationship that the follower of Jesus enjoys with God--(v. 15e).
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
The Holy Spirit testifies (Gk. confirms, bear witness, confirms) with our spirit that we are, in fact, God’s children (v. 16).
Because We are Children of God
Because We are Children of God
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
If we are children, then we are heirs (v. 17a).
Specifically heirs of God (v. 17b).
And co-heirs with Jesus (v. 17c).
This idea was first mentioned by Paul in his farewell speech in Acts 20. In Acts 20:32--“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Cf. Gal 3:29; 4:7; Eph 3:6; Titus 3:7) (v. 17d).
Now there’s a big “if.” If we share in the sufferings of Jesus (v. 17e).
Sharing in Jesus’ sufferings, share in His glory (v. 17f).
SO WHAT?
SO WHAT?
We are here the Sunday before we celebrate Thanksgiving. In fact, tonight our church body will gather together and celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing a meal together.
Our passage here in Romans should make us very, very thankful!
First, we should be thankful that Jesus rescues us from death (Rom. 7:24-25).
Romans 7:24–25 (NIV)
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Secondly, we should be thankful that we no longer live condemned by God. Romans 8:1 should make us extremely thankful—there is NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus!
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Thirdly, we should be thankful that we belong to God!
Which brings us to the fourth reason to be thankful—We belong to Christ!
Fifth, because we belong to Christ we have been adopted into the family of God! That’s right, we have an intimate relationship with almighty God!
Sixth, as adopted children we are co-heirs with Jesus.
And as heirs we are united with Christ both in His sufferings and in His glory!
Seven things for which we should be very, very thankful. So during this season of Thanksgiving, let’s reflect on the wonder of being part of God’s amazing family, and let us give thanks for being able to participate, not only in the glory of Jesus, but also in the sufferings of Jesus.
When we celebrate our full participation (in both Jesus’ glory and in His sufferings) we will join Paul in his statement made in verse 18.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
[PRAYER]